Display apparatus



1)e.9,1941.A 1.1.. PERKINS 2,265,611

DISPLAY APPARATUS Filed March 9, 1940 lll lllilll-l-ll ll l' ummummullllllll I @z f J U i '1 1 V s l v Q INVENTOR.

BY @Mz-@ im@ Patented Dec. 9, 1941 DISPLAY' APPARATUS' f JulianfIn-Perkns; West Springfield; Massy-'assignor fto VPerkins 'Machine Aand GlearV Company` f West Springfield,` Mass., a. corporationof Masf A sachuse't'ts ApplicatMa'lch 9.1940, Serial 'Noi-'323,125'

2 Claims;4 v(C This r4appli/cation 'relatesfito'A "l improvements in displayf apparatus 'and is ldirected l-n'iore particularly to improvements in displayf` surface which is 1 formedv` to have portions thereof *arranged Vfor relative movement; such asin-the patent to' Kennedyl #1.742017 of' January'-S 7. vr1930.

The principalfcbjects' o'f--the invention'aredi-I rected'tof'the provision: of a''displa'yv apparatus wherein' there 'faref movable parts of'fa `display surface actuated by fintercngagi'ng members, such as front "panel while-the marginal edge portionsfof fm'emberl 4 bear ushagainst member 2.- 5

There `isa gear 'l lll fo'r'- each disc S-Yand these*1 f gears'js'olocatedfan'd arrangedas to vbev well prow tectedjand concealed'from view.V4 'At the same time-the constructions Such that it is relatively easy and 'economicalf't'o inanu'facture whilel still I Y* having the advantageous 'characteristic of being* smoothand quiet in operation.

Accordingto theinvention there are front and back panels spaced apart with a gear or gears between them for actuating a movable part or parts of the front panel. The construction is such that it meets the demand of low-cost, rigidity and compactness and the movable parts are firmly supported for rotative movements in the same plane with one another.

Various other novel features and advantages of the invention will be hereinafter more fully referred to in connection with the accompanying description of the invention, in the present preferred form thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of the invention with parts in section to explain certain features of construction;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional View on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail, the invention will be fully described.

There is a forward panel 2 and a rear panel 4 arranged in a way about to be described with a frame 6 extending therearound. The frame 6 is preferably formed of wood and the panels of sheet metal but, of course, the materials may be varied, as may be their shape and size.

The frame may have a flange against which marginal edge portions of the front panel 2 bear as shown. Said front panel is provided with a plurality of spaced openings in which are disposed discs 8.

The panel 2 is preferably a flat-surfaced sheet and the discs 8 are of the same material as the said panel. In any event, the discs are rotatable l. Litl- 34) '-relative'ito the panel-*and in approximately the same:plane'aswthe-forward'surface thereof.

The rear panel 4 has" itsmain orcentral body portion--'space'd"fromthe front Ypanel while y"its marginal'edge portions are offset ``forwardly with respecttosaid `body 'portion as; shown in Fig. "3C 1 Thatis; the mainpartof the rear panel'isarranged Ito' vprovide a'fspacebetwen it and "the gears are disposed in the spaces-'between"the f panels'. Saidfbears {may have shafts lZ'j'pro'Vid'ed* 4 with hubs UM whicharejournalled'inbearings 18 .provided in therear panel 4.- l

The gears are in mesh-Withone another', asini'- dicatedv in'Figi l. The mechanism for'operatin'g Fifi# the gears may vary but it preferably includes a motor M and driving mechanism D associated therewith. Said mechanism may be secured to the apparatus in some suitable way, as by being carried by the rear panel.

The operating mechanism will be adapted to drive any one or more than one of the gears. Said operating mechanism not being a part of this invention, it is not thought that it need be more described.

It is desirable that there is sufficient clearance between the main body of the rear panel and the apertured front panel so that the gears can freely rotate in the spaces therebetween. At the same time, for most effective results, the gears should be well supported and to this end I arrange to have their forward faces quite flush against the rear surface of the front panel, as shown in Fig. 3.

The construction is such that the gears are held accurately in their desired co-operative relation. The front and rear panels are preferably secured rigidly together by spot-welding, indicated by 20', at spaced points adjacent their marginal edges, the rear panel having its marginal edge portions offset forwardly as shown and above described.

According to the preferred form of the invention, too, the rear panel 4 has other forwardlyoffset parts 20 which are so located as to bear against the forward panel at various spaced points intermediate the marginal edges thereof and extend forwardly between non-engaging parts of adjacent gears. Said parts 20 may then be spot-welded so that the two panels are well secured together with the gears firmly held in place for efficient rotation.

The unit formed by the thus secured-together panels may be held within the frame by any suitable means such as staples 22 extending into frame 6 with parts bearing against the rear face of the rear panel as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

As with the display sign shown and described in said Kennedy patent referred to above, the

3V front panel 2 and rotatable elements 8 are adapt- 1 ed to carry any desired indicia. When-the rotatable discs 8 are at a stand-still, the indicia thereon preferably is in register with the station- While I have described the invention in great detail and with respect to the present preferred 1 form thereof, it is not desired to be limited thereto since changes and modifications may be made 1 thereinV Without departing from the spirit and g scope of the invention. The invention may be embodied in other specific forms Without del parting from the essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by 1 the foregoing description, and all changes Wfhich come Within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be i embraced therein.

What it isdesired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination in display apparatus of the class described of, a front panel having 1 spaced apertures therein, a plurality of discs rotatable therein having opposite faces substantially coplanar with opposite faces of the front panel, a rear panel consisting of a single sheet of material having outer marginal edge portions extending forwardly therefrom secured to the rear face of said front panel and intermediate portions extending forwardly therefrom to the rear face of said front panel to space said front and rear panels to provide a gear space, intermeshing gears associated with said discs disposed in said gear space abutting the rear face of said front panel and the front face o-f the rear panel and held against axial movements by said panels, and Shafts for said gears rotatably journalled lin said rear panel.

2. The combination in display apparatus of the class described of, a front panel having spaced apertures therein, a plurality of discs rotatable in said apertures having opposite faces substantially coplanar with opposite front and rear faces of said panel, a rear panel having marginal edge portions offset into engagement with the rear face of the front panel and other intermediate portions similarly offset and in engagement with the rear face of said front panel spacing the main body of the rear panel from the front panel in the vicinity of said discs providing gear spaces, gears in said gear spaces -secured to said discs having frontface surfacesA engaging the rear face of said front panel and hubs engaging the front face of said rear panel wherebyv said gears are retained against axial movements and the front faces of said disc and front panel held in coplanar relation, and; shafts associated with said gears journalled in the rear panel. y

JULIAN L. PERKINS. 

